So Long 2011

To cap off a great year, we had a great boat ride and watched the sun go down on 2011.

Good thing they are slow!!

 

Yep! She did it. Nope, she didn’t stay in long.

 

I’ve been meaning to take a picture of this for ages.  Here is what my GPS shows while we are in the car.

Whew!  2011 was a fast year.  I bet 2012 will go even faster!

One simple word

It is amazing how one simple word can have such a big impact on your life.

For the last couple of years I have chosen a word for the year.  The idea is simple.  You choose one simple word and invite it into your world.  Then once you are open to that one simple word it can surprise you with all the ways it makes itself into different aspects of your life.  Ali Edwards is a big believer in the whole idea!

Last year my word was CHOOSE. 

In the beginning of the year I was really amazed how empowering that one word was.  It made me aware of my ability to choose.  Of course I already knew that I had the right to choose, but it almost gave me permission, if you will, to choose. 

Did I choose to spend my birthday waiting in line at the DMV with two young boys?  Yes and no.  I did choose to stick the auto renewal form into a drawer, even though there was a voice inside my head telling me not to do it.  So in a way I chose to be there.    What I really chose to do was to try and enjoy it as much as I could.  You know what?  By choosing to enjoy it, it wasn't THAT bad.

We had quite an exciting year in 2010.
First there was this

It lasted forever.  I chose to stay inside til it melted.  Well once I went out, and it ended badly.

Then we did this

  We celebrated a special anniversary with this

Then my wonderful sister took me here.  It took a lot of work, but I chose to enjoy it no matter how hard it was!

I'm totally being sarcastic.

Then I got to do this

At this point, maybe I should have just called it a wrap.  I had some fantastic experinces in the first half of 2010.

Then we found out we were moving.  To the Bahamas. 

So the summer was a bit hairy.  However through all the upheaval we still manged to sqeeze in some really wonderful memories.

Chasing fireflies

 Selling our house

Going to the beach

 Seeing the pig races at the Fair

Seeing a baby chick make its way into the world

Riding a Faris Wheel for the first time



The Pirate Party Blowout

Then it was time to move.  I CHOOSE to forget most of that.
Right before we left, the boys got to experience a little Autumn in NC and J learned this cool trick.

As soon as we got here we got busy doing this!

Then he wanted to do this.  My heart is still broken

From Nassa and Beaches

Then I decided that Butterbean and I would enjoy some alone time, and I taught him to do this!

From Miller

All of a sudden we were doing this

Oh my goodness, now we are already done with this-


So back to my word...
Did I choose to all of it?  No, not really, but I did get to choose whether I got to enjoy it or not.  Enjoy it I did!  What an incredible experience this year has been.

Which brings me to my word for 2011.  What do you think it is going to be?  It will be hard to top 2010.

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think my word will be.  It is in one of these sentences after the pictures.  First one to guess gets a free nights stay in the Bahamas the prize!



Thinking...

This time of year gets me thinking of all I have accomplished (or not) and all I hope to accomplish in the coming year. Life often brings surprises, but it is important to set goals for yourself. Making resloutions don't seem to work out for me. I usually make my resolutions but then when I break it, I just give up. lame, I know. So last year I decided to give myself a single word that I wanted to be my theme for the year. Last year I chose "thrive". It was good and so many ways I did thrive. However, I think I can do better (better is a good one).
Now I am pondering an appropriate word for the coming year.
It is important to make it not just a good word, but one that I can really embrace (embrace is a good one) and let it sink into many aspects of my life.
Have you ever done this? What word would you choose?
I think I have my word. It is in one of these sentences. Can you figure it out?

New Year, New Look

I've been contemplating this for a long time, and I finally took the plunge. It will take some getting used to for sure!


Before from the front

side


back

the new front

the new side

the new back- you can see some of the different shades in this picture

Goodbye 2008

This has been an exceptionally fantastic year!

 

See you in 2009